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The 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is underway, and this year marks the debut of several new options for Festival guests. We’re going to cover two of the most popular — and most expensive — today!

The Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package is available exclusively to Disney Resort guests (as well as guests at Swan & Dolphin and Golden Oak), and the Food and Wine Festival — Late Nights LIVE! after hours party, which is available for purchase to all guests.

Premium Package credential, gift card, and themed MagicBand

Today we’re breaking down the components into a few sections beginning with the Food & Wine Premium Package. At the end of the post, we’ll go over our thoughts regarding value for the price of these options.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package

There are three main components to the Food & Wine Premium Festival Package available for Disney Resort guests: In-Room Amenities, dedicated Food & Wine Festival Premium Package Areas at Epcot, and entrance into the Epcot Food & Wine Late Nights Live! party. The package costs $199/person.

In-room Amenities

I was definitely curious to see the in-room amenities included in the package, though I had some idea from the official description from Disney: “a select bottle of wine (for Guests over 21 years of age), a festival wine glass and delicious chocolate truffles.”

I arrived to my resort a few hours early, hoping for the possibility of an early check-in. I was kindly accommodated, but since I arrived early, I actually picked up my gift bag at Concierge Services at the front desk. So, if you are participating in this package and are also an early check-in hopeful (before 3:00PM), that’s just something to keep in mind. With that said, I received everything in a thermal Food & Wine tote.

Amenities Bag

Let’s check off the list, starting with the wine, which was a bottle of “Sogno d’ Italia (Dream of Italy)” Chianti. It was one of the bottles “made exclusively for Disney Parks.”

Dream of Italy Chianti

Sogno d’Italia label

Guests can find this wine sold in the Italy Pavilion (we’ll have a “math breakdown” later on to discuss more of the value).

A Food and Wine Festival souvenir stemless wine glass is part of the package as well.

Souvenir wine glass

Four truffles came in an edible box made of dark chocolate, topped with a white chocolate themed decoration.

The in-room amenities are fun, and it did feel a little like a holiday, opening gifts upon arrival.

Gifts inside the amenities bag

But it may be the next three items that are of the most interest: a Food & Wine themed MagicBand, a $50 Disney gift card, and the Premium Package “credential” lanyard, which grants guests access to exclusive Premium Package Areas within the Festival.

Premium Package credential, gift card, and themed MagicBand

The credential is a lanyard to wear around the Festival, and while we’ll explore its design and function more in the next section, it’s worth noting that one side is printed with the dates the guest can access the Premium Package areas.

The MagicBand is decorated with the current signature artwork for the Food and Wine Festival.

Epcot Food & Wine Late Nights LIVE!

UPDATE: The Food & Wine Late Nights Live! event will no longer be offered on Tuesday evenings. The text below reflects this change.

Epcot Food & Wine Late Nights LIVE! is an after-hours street party, running every Thursday (beginning September 25th) throughout the Festival.

From 9:45 pm – 1:00 am, guests will enjoy the late-night atmosphere of World Showcase between the United Kingdom Pavilion and Showcase Plaza!

The cost is $79 (plus tax), and includes music, entertainment, and a live DJ to add to the festive atmosphere, along with six items from several of the Festival marketplace booths.

If you are entering Epcot for the event only (after the park closes) Epcot admission is not required.

Epcot Food & Wine Premium Package

Running Mondays through Thursdays throughout the Festival, the Epcot Food & Wine Premium Package gives guests the opportunity to “sip and savor dozens of unique, fresh flavors from six continents.” The Premium Package is offered exclusively to guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts, the Swan & Dolphin Resorts, and Golden Oak.

Seafood Fisherman’s Pie from Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

There is a LOT going on here, so be sure to read all of the inclusions below!

The cost is $199 (plus tax) and includes an in-room gift bag with a select bottle of wine, a Food & Wine Festival wine glass, truffles, and a “Premium Package Area credential.”

A themed Food & Wine Magic Band and a$50 gift card is also included, as well as access to Premium Package Areas around World Showcase where Premium Package guests will order items from select marketplace booths and have them delivered directly. No waiting in line!

Additionally, the Premium Package includes admission to one Epcot Food & Wine Late Nights LIVE! event.